Model 41 Field Barrels

Krogen · Jul 30, 2012

I'm wondering about variations of Model 41 field barrels. I have a 5 digit, cocking indicator 41. Along with the muzzle break barrel, it came with a field barrel. I read somewhere (this list, I think) that some field barrels were cut down from longer barrels and are quite valuable. The front sight on my field barrel appears to be a separate part. This is different than the muzzle break barrel where the sight appears to be integral to the barrel. Is this one of the cut down barrels? What other styles/variations exist?

The field barrel sure makes the gun a true delight. It has a different feel altogether compare to the 5 1/2" heavy barrel or the muzzle break barrel. It's a shame S&W doesn't produce it these days. Any information about field barrels the list can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Krogen

civil1977 · Aug 3, 2012

The muzzle brake barrel is a 7 3/8" barrel and it was replaced by the 7" barrel around 1978 when the muzzle brake was discontinued.

There are three basic variations of 5" field barrels; factory cut down 7 3/8" barrel with pressed in plug where the internal weight would go, factory cut down 7 3/8" barrel with the internal weight left in place and factory purpose built as a 5" (not cut down). The 5" field was the second barrel style produced for the Model 41, following the 7 3/8" barrel, and the first group of 5" field barrels were supposedly purpose built as 5" barrels. Then the cut down 7 3/8" barrels were used, some say S&W used 7 3/8" barrels with defects towards the muzzle. They were made like this until some time in the 1970s when the purpose build 5" barrels came out (again).

There are also variations on the sights such as patridge, ramp, red ramp and at least one set of factory three white dot sights has been reported.

I don't know that the factory cut down barrels are worth any more than the others however the 5" field barrels tend to fetch more than any other Model 41 barrel, except for maybe the 5.5" extendable front sight barrel.

With all that said, many 7 3/8" and 7" barrels have been cut down outside of the factory and sometimes it's hard to tell if it's original or not.

Krogen · Aug 4, 2012

Thanks very much, civil1977. I appreciate the info you provided. I'm guessing my gun is from the late 60's as it drops into that big gap in serial numbers and dates during that era.

The gun itself and the 7 3/8" barrel have the lazy & on them. The field barrel doesn't, though, and is apparently later. The field barrel has the same type of rear sight as the 7 3/8" There's no evidence of a barrel weight hole or plug. Interestingly, there's about 1/16" of the muzzle weight groove remaining on the side of the barrel. It can also be seen on the sides of the muzzle end as small "nicks" in the side. As mentioned above, the front sight looks like a separately attached piece unlike the integral sight on the 7 3/8"

Back in the late 80's I bought the gun with both barrels from the son of the original owner. I can only guess the original owner bought the 7 3/8" gun and sometime later bought the field barrel. No box etc. and I bought it as a shooter. It's a completely different and enjoyable gun with the field barrel installed. I bought a 5 1/2" heavy barrel a few years ago use with an Ultradot. Great gun, and it will be the last one I ever sell - if ever.

Thanks again for the detailed information.

Krogen

k22fan · Aug 4, 2012

So far as I know the only way to be sure a field barrel that was made by cutting down a long barrel is factory original is your trust in the seller stating that he bought it new. If he kept the factory box like an older gentleman at my local range did that lends a lot of credibility to the claim that it was purchased new. Another member has a cut down field barrel he believes is original. Its barrel weight hole was plugged differently. One of the plugs has a hemispherical protruding end while the other is flush. I forget which is which. Very soon I will take home one with a flush barrel weight plug that I believe or maybe actually just hope is original. I have not looked inside the slide of any of the three to see if their plugs are hollow. It would be nice to be able to verify the originality of field barrels as there are far more non-factory cut downs than original ones.
As an aside, the first 41 that I bought came with a 5 1/2 inch "field barrel" that a local gun smith made from a long barrel. He made quite a few of them. He chose 5½ inches so they would never be fraudulently sold as original barrels which sometimes fetch a high price. Fortunately the extra ½" of remaining barrel flutes makes them look a lot better and all the holsters I've seen for shorter 41s were made to accommodate 5.5".

TOM BECKWITH · Aug 4, 2012

I suggest that the earlier (7 3/8") cut bbl bodies have a small nub at the end of the bbl itself (as did the origonal 5" bbls that were built as such - not cutdown). The earliest cut down bbls had the convex plug and later ones were straight cut but generally the plug can be seen in careful (or less) inspection. The later bbls without the plug (7" cuts) are countersunk. The bbl stampings are in the same relative spot on all earlier bbls regardless of length. It is doubtful that most gunsmiths could or would duplicate the earlier various 5" bbls. correctly. The bbl nub and the front site would be more than a challange and be cost prohibitive. Cutting a good 7 3/8" bbl today would be somewhat a folly valuewise.

Model 41 Field Barrels

Krogen

civil1977

Member

Krogen

k22fan

Member

TOM BECKWITH

US Veteran

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